Sinkhole Confirms Traffic Woes For FishHawk Residents

A single–vehicle accident during the early morning hours last month causing a water main brake and a subsequent 20-foot wide sinkhole, which has swallowed unsuspecting motorists, on FishHawk Crossing Blvd., has only fueled a number of already concerned local residents to push for further steps to be taken in hopes of calming the traffic flow within the streets of the community.

According to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputy Milo Millovitch, speed was likely the cause of the accident as the vehicle went off the road just moments prior to hitting the fire hydrant and then rolling into the wooded area, where it came to a stop, after which the driver left the scene without warning anyone of the accident.

“The driver was questioned and sited for leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage and for failing to report an accident involving property damage,” Millovitch said.

Catching and charging the driver, brings little comfort to FishHawk resident Jim Shriner, who has for some time been working diligently with County officials as well as the FishHawk Ranch Homeowners Association in hopes of calming as well as slowing the traffic flow on FishHawk Crossings Boulevard, including writing of letters to all involved as well as sending County and community official singed petitions, which Shriner says seems to be falling on deaf ears.

“I am not surprised,” Shriner said referring to the accident causing the sinkhole. “I am just glad no one got hurt, but people seem to think they can go as fast as they want on this road even though the speed limit is 25 miles per hour, and forget that they are in a subdivision,” he said adding, “I am especially concerned about the safety of the children.”

Deputy Millovitch agreed as he mentioned that speeding within the FishHawk community specifically on the main streets such as FishHawk Crossing Boulevard, continues to be a problem.

Since the recent accident, Hillsborough County has scheduled to hold a public meeting to discuss traffic problems along Churchside Drive from Bridgevista Drive to FishHawk Crossing Boulevard, near the intersection of Churchside Drive and FishHawk Crossing Boulevard.

According to County spokes person Steve Valdez, a possible solution could be the installation of speed humps, the recommendation to the County Commissioners on solving this traffic problem is based on this meeting, while residents were all welcomed to attend, and share their input.